In response to a
lawsuit, Penn State has determined that its
women's basketball coach, Rene Portland, discriminated
against player Jennifer Harris because she was thought
to be a lesbian. But the university has decided to
keep the coach on the payroll, a decision deemed
insulting and inadequate by Harris and her attorneys.
In an internal
investigation, Penn State found that Portland
created a hostile, intimidating, and offensive environment
because the coach believed Harris was gay. In addition
to a written reprimand, Portland will be required
to pay a $10,000 fine and attend a professional
development course that teaches diversity; she was also
told that if her discriminatory behavior
continues, she will be fired.
Harris, along
with the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which fought
on Harris's behalf, greeted the news with very mixed
emotions. "I am disappointed by this result," Harris
said. "Penn State did not take the allegations
seriously and does not appear interested in solving
the underlying problem."
"The courage and
bravery of Jennifer Harris finally has exposed Rene
Portland's reign of terror," said Kate Kendell, executive
director of the NCLR. "I've spoken directly with a
number of women who played for Coach Portland over the
past three decades and who were traumatized by her
antilesbian policy. Given the damage done by Penn State and
the personal sacrifice of Jennifer Harris, the
consequences faced by Rene Portland are insulting and
inadequate."
Karen Doering,
senior counsel for NCLR, echoed Kendell's words and added
that homophobic discrimination is endemic at Penn State. "We
are deeply disappointed that Penn State has chosen
such minor rebuke to address such a systemic,
quarter-century-long problem," Doering said. "We will
go forward with the court-ordered mediation scheduled for
mid May, but we do not hold out much hope for a negotiated
resolution at this state given Penn State's anemic
response and Coach Portland's continued denials and
failure to acknowledge that her discriminatory and
unlawful behavior needs to change." (The
Advocate)
